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Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle

Lepidochelys kempii

Reptile · family Cheloniidae · order Testudines

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G2: imperiled[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Endangered Species Act
Endangered[1]
NatureServe global rank
G2 Imperiled[2]
Native in
18 states[3]
Longest recorded life
30.2 years[4]

Kemp's ridley sea turtle is a reptile in the family Cheloniidae[5], and it is listed as Endangered under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. Adults are rare along the northeastern Atlantic coast, and most stay in the Gulf of Mexico[6].

Conservation status

Under the US Endangered Species Act, this turtle has the status Endangered, listed December 2, 1970[1]. NatureServe gives it a global rank of G2, which means Imperiled[2]. In the United States, its national rank is N1N, which means Critically Imperiled for nonbreeding turtles[7]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Critically endangered[8]. It is also in CITES Appendix I, which sets controls on international trade[9].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Endangered, listed December 2, 1970
NatureServe global rank[2] G2 (Imperiled)
NatureServe US rank[7] N1N (Critically Imperiled (nonbreeding))
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[8] Critically endangered
CITES (international trade)[9] Appendix I
Total population (NatureServe estimate)[10] 10,000 to 100,000 individuals

Where Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle lives

NatureServe lists this turtle as native in 18 US states and territories, from Texas and Florida up the Atlantic coast to Maine[3]. The Endangered Species Act listed range names Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia[1]. Among states with the most GBIF observation records are Texas, New York, Florida, Massachusetts and North Carolina[11]. These records follow where people look and report, not how many turtles live there[11].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: native, state rank SNRMEWisconsin: not recordedWIVermont: not recordedVTNew Hampshire: native, state rank SNRNHWashington: not recordedWAIdaho: not recordedIDMontana: not recordedMTNorth Dakota: not recordedNDMinnesota: not recordedMNIllinois: not recordedILMichigan: not recordedMINew York: native, state rank S1NNYMassachusetts: native, state rank S1NMAOregon: not recordedORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: not recordedWYSouth Dakota: not recordedSDIowa: not recordedIAIndiana: not recordedINOhio: not recordedOHPennsylvania: not recordedPANew Jersey: native, state rank S1MNJConnecticut: native, state rank S1NCTRhode Island: native, state rank SNRRICalifornia: not recordedCAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: not recordedCONebraska: not recordedNEMissouri: not recordedMOKentucky: not recordedKYWest Virginia: not recordedWVVirginia: native, state rank S1B,S1NVAMaryland: native, state rank S1NMDDelaware: native, state rank SNADEArizona: not recordedAZNew Mexico: not recordedNMKansas: not recordedKSArkansas: not recordedARTennessee: not recordedTNNorth Carolina: native, state rank S1B,SUNNCSouth Carolina: native, state rank S1NSCDistrict of Columbia: not recordedDCOklahoma: not recordedOKLouisiana: native, state rank S1LAMississippi: native, state rank S1N,S1BMSAlabama: native, state rank S1ALGeorgia: native, state rank S2GAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: native, state rank S3TXFlorida: native, state rank S1FLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[12].
Show state ranks (18 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlabamaS1Critically Imperiled
ConnecticutS1NCritically Imperiled (nonbreeding)
DelawareSNANot Applicable
FloridaS1Critically Imperiled
GeorgiaS2Imperiled
LouisianaS1Critically Imperiled
MaineSNRNot Ranked
MarylandS1NCritically Imperiled (nonbreeding)
MassachusettsS1NCritically Imperiled (nonbreeding)
MississippiS1N,S1BCritically Imperiled (nonbreeding), Critically Imperiled (breeding)
New HampshireSNRNot Ranked
New JerseyS1MCritically Imperiled (migrant)
New YorkS1NCritically Imperiled (nonbreeding)
North CarolinaS1B,SUNCritically Imperiled (breeding), Unrankable (nonbreeding)
Rhode IslandSNRNot Ranked
South CarolinaS1NCritically Imperiled (nonbreeding)
TexasS3Vulnerable
VirginiaS1B,S1NCritically Imperiled (breeding), Critically Imperiled (nonbreeding)

Habitat

NatureServe records habitat types of sand and dune, tidal flat and shore, open ocean and near shore[13]. Adults live mostly in shallow coastal waters with sandy or muddy floors, where crabs are plentiful[6]. Young turtles first drift at the surface in floating weedlines of offshore currents for 1 to 4 years[6]. After that they move to coastal bottom habitats[6].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[13]

Size, diet and lifespan

Adults mostly feed on the sea floor and specialize in crabs[14]. NatureServe calls them invertivores, which means they eat animals without backbones[15]. Young turtles eat sargassum seaweed, mollusks and some fishes and shrimps[14]. The typical length recorded by NatureServe is 70 cm (28 in), and the typical adult weight is 45 kg (99 lb)[16][17]. A typical clutch size in AnAge is 110, and incubation takes 60 days[18][19]. Females reach sexual maturity at 2,190 days[20].

Trait Value
Typical length[16] 70 cm (28 in)
Typical adult weight[17] 45 kg (99 lb)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[4] 30.2 years (wild)
Litter or clutch size[18] 110
Gestation or incubation[19] 60 days
Female maturity[20] 2,190 days (about 6.0 years)
Food habits[15] Invertivore
Migration[21] long-distance migrant

When to look for it

NatureServe describes this turtle as a long-distance migrant, though populations can differ[21]. GBIF observation records in the United States are highest in February, July and December[22]. Records are lowest in January, March and April[22]. These records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[22].

January: 151 recordsJanFebruary: 557 recordsFebMarch: 157 recordsMarApril: 163 recordsAprMay: 481 recordsMayJune: 531 recordsJunJuly: 648 recordsJulAugust: 552 recordsAugSeptember: 352 recordsSepOctober: 368 recordsOctNovember: 412 recordsNovDecember: 616 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[22].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January151
February557
March157
April163
May481
June531
July648
August552
September352
October368
November412
December616

Where to see it

This species is protected or at risk, so we show its range only at the state level. We do not publish parks, nesting, spawning or wintering sites.

States with the most GBIF observation records: Texas, New York, Florida, Massachusetts, North Carolina[11]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Kemp's ridley sea turtle endangered?
Yes. Under the US Endangered Species Act it has the status Endangered, listed December 2, 1970[1]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Critically endangered[8].
Where does the Kemp's ridley sea turtle live?
NatureServe lists it as native in 18 US states and territories along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts[3]. Adults are found mostly in the Gulf of Mexico[6].
What does the Kemp's ridley sea turtle eat?
Adults mostly feed on the sea floor and specialize in crabs[14]. Young turtles eat sargassum, mollusks, fishes and shrimps[14].
How big is a Kemp's ridley sea turtle?
The typical length recorded by NatureServe is 70 cm (28 in)[16]. The typical adult weight is 45 kg (99 lb)[17].

Facts and sources

  1. Under the US Endangered Species Act, Kemp's ridley sea turtle has the status Endangered, listed December 2, 1970 (USFWS ECOS). States in the listed range: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas,... USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle: G2 (Imperiled). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle as native in 18 US states and territories: Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode... NatureServe Explorer
  4. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 30.2 years in the wild. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  5. Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle (Lepidochelys kempii) is a reptile in the family Cheloniidae, order Testudines. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe notes on habitat for Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle. NatureServe Explorer
  7. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N1N (Critically Imperiled (nonbreeding)). NatureServe Explorer
  8. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Critically endangered. NatureServe Explorer
  9. CITES listing recorded by NatureServe: Appendix I (controls on international trade). NatureServe Explorer
  10. NatureServe estimate of total adult population (global, as a range): 10,000 to 100,000 individuals. NatureServe Explorer
  11. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle: Texas, New York, Florida, Massachusetts, North Carolina. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF
  12. NatureServe state ranks for Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  13. Habitat types NatureServe records for Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle: Sand/dune, Bay/sound, Tidal flat/shore, Pelagic, Near shore. NatureServe Explorer
  14. NatureServe notes on food for Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle. NatureServe Explorer
  15. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Invertivore. NatureServe Explorer
  16. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 70 cm (28 in). NatureServe Explorer
  17. Typical adult weight recorded by NatureServe: 45 kg (99 lb). NatureServe Explorer
  18. Typical litter or clutch size in AnAge: 110. AnAge
  19. Gestation or incubation period in AnAge: 60 days. AnAge
  20. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 2,190 days (about 6.0 years). AnAge
  21. NatureServe migration category for Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle: long-distance migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  22. GBIF observation records of Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.